B
Base Metals: any metal that is non-precious, such as brass, copper, nickel, steel, etc.
Bead: a small glass, plastic, wood, or stone piece that is pierced for stringing or threading.
Birthstone: a gemstone associated with a particular month & customarily worn by persons born during that month. birthstone table|
Briolette: pear-shaped or oval gem, cut in long triangular facets.

C
Carnelian: a pale or deep red/reddish-brown variety of clear chalcedony. examples| properties|
Chalcedony: a translucent to transparent milky or grayish quartz. examples| properties|
Citrine: a pale yellow variety of crystalline quartz resembling topaz. examples| properties|
Clasps: any device used to open or close a piece of jewelry.
Component: any metal parts or a metal connector, i.e. spacers, jump rings, cones, clasps, etc., used to form a larger complex.
Cone: a metal connector used to combine and conceal the ends of multiple strands, also a component.
Crimps: metal component used to attach a string of beads to a clasp.
Crystal: clear or transparent form of quartz. examples| properties|
Crystal Quartz: see crystal. examples| properties|

D
Diamond: colorless precious gemstone; April birthstone. birthstone table|

E
Ear-post: metal ball and stick used to pass through the pierced earlobe and to attach an earring to the ear. examples|
Ear-wire: hook-shaped piece of metal used to pass through the pierced earlobe and to attach an earring to the ear. examples|
Emerald: green colored precious gemstone; May birthstone. birthstone table|

F
Faceted: consisting of mulitple facets or flat polished surfaces.

G
Garnet: usually a red colored semi-precious gemstone; January gemstone. birthstone table| examples| properties|
Gemstone: a precious or semi-precious stone that may be used as a jewel when cut and polished.
German Vintage: a discontinued bead by German bead makers. examples|
Glass: examples|
Gold: the most precious and malleable metal, usually yellow colored.
Gold-filled: layer of gold wrapped over a base metal core, such as brass. Gold layer usually consists of 20% of the metal.
Gold-plated: thin layer of gold wrapped over a base metal core.
Green Phantom: a clear quartz stone with green chlorite formations trapped inside the stone. examples| properties|

H
Hook and Eye Clasp: a form of clasp connected by a hook and an eyelet. examples|

I
Iolite: sapphire blue to blue-violet gemstone. examples| properties|

J
Jump Rings: metal rings used to join two ends of a strand of beads; also a component.

K

L

M
Moonstone: a variety of feldspar valued as a gem for its pearly translucence; June birthstone. birthstone table| examples| properties|

N

O
Obsidian: black shiny volcanic glass. examples| properties|

P
Peridot: a yellowish-green variety of olivine; semi-precious gemstone; August birthstone. birthstone table| examples| properties|
Precious Metals: metals, including gold and silver.
Precious Stones: gems, including the diamond, emerald, ruby, and sapphire, that have high economic value because of their rarity or appearance.

Q

R
Rainbow Moonstone: moonstone that exudes an iridescent glow; June birthstone. birthstone table| examples| properties|
Rainbow Obsidian: obsidian that exudes a chatoyant glow. examples| properties|
Rhodolite Garnet: a rose-red or pink variety of garnet; semi-precious gemstone. examples|
Rondelle: a circular saucer-shaped bead.
Rose Quartz: a pinkish variety of mineral quartz. examples| properties|
Rounds: a ball-shaped bead.
Ruby: red-colored precious gemstone; July birthstone. birthstone table|

S
Sapphire: clear to blue-colored precious gemstone; September birthstone. birthstone table| examples| properties|
Seed Bead: tiny plastic beads.
Semi-precious stones: a gem that has commercial value but not as rare or expensive as a precious stone.
Silver: fine silver is both an element and a mineral. In the United States, silver is usually sterling silver or .925 silver alloy, which means it is 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% copper to make it stronger. properties|
Smoky Quartz: a transparent of semi-transparent brown to nearly black variety of quartz; semi-precious gemstone. examples| properties|
Smooth: unpolished.
Snow Quartz: cloudy white variety of quartz. examples| properties|
Spacer: small decorative bead used to separate other beads; also a component.
Sterling Silver: an alloy of 92.5% silver with copper or another metal.
Swarovski Crystal: faceted glass beads resembling crystals by Swarovski. examples|

T
Tanzanite: a transparent variety of zoisite; semi-precious gemstone. examples|
Toggle Clasp: clasp consisting of two parts, one shaped like the letter "O" and the other shaped like the letter "T".  The T-shaped component slips into the O-shaped component to hold a necklace or bracelet together. examples|
Topaz: a colorless, blue, yellow, brown, or pink aluminum silicate gemstone; November birthstone. birthstone table| examples| properties|
Tourmaline: a complex crystalline silicate mineral; semi-precious gemstone; comes in a variety of colors from reds to greens to black; October birthstone. birthstone table| examples| properties|
Trigger Clasp: a spring loaded clasp. examples|
Turquoise: a blue to blue-green mineral gemstone; December birthstone. birthstone table|

U
USD: abbreviation for United States Dollar; currency in the United States of America.

V
Vermeil: gilded silver or 18 karat to 24 karat gold-plated sterling silver.

W

X

Y

Z